Along the Trail: Camping in the Big Cypress Preserve

Along the Trail: Camping in the Big Cypress Preserve

PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FRIENDS OF BIG CYPRESS

There are several National Park Service campgrounds near the midpoint of your Tamiami Trail crossing that accommodate recreational vehicles , although you won't find much in the way of amenities. For the most part, dry-docking is the order of the day, so bring your own water, your own electricity and anything else you might need. Oh, yea. Don't forget the bug repellent. Reservations are not accepted for these campgrounds, and camping is free at all but Monument Lake and Midway. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis, and finding a site could be tough in February and March, when the snowbird migration is at its peak. Good times to visit are during spring and late fall -- avoiding the humid summer wet season and the crush of winter visitors. Midway Campground: (See photo; Open all year) There are 26 RV campsites and another 10 for tents. RV sites can hook up to electricity and there is a dump station and restrooms. Drinking water is accessible. Located near the Oasis Visitor Center and the Florida Trail, where backpackers can hike deep into the Big Cypress Preserve. Camping fees are $19 for RV's and $16 for tents. Monument Lake Campground: (Open only from September 1 through April 15). There are 36 campsites (26 for RV, 10 for tents), but no hookups. An outside, cold-water shower is available, but that's about it. The campground is located at Monroe Station, which marks the end of the scenic 26-mile Loop Road that runs deep into the wilderness. Camping fee is $16 for both tents and RVs. Burns Lake Campground: (Open only from September 1 through January 6) There are 40 sites at Burns Lake, but none have hookups. The campsites are open and surround a small lake, off-limits to swimmers. Just west of the campground is the H.P. Williams Roadside Park, where you can do a 17-mile side trip by car or by bicycle along Turner Road through scenice prairies graced with wildflowers and cypress. No camping fees. Bear Island Campground:> (Open all year). Primitive camping in three designated campgrounds: Bear Island (40 sites), Pink Jeep (9 sites), and Gator Pit (9 sites). The latter require and off-road-vehicle permit. There are no amenities whatsoever. Access from Turner Road. No camping fees. Pinecrest Campground: (Open all year). Primitive camping on 10 sites with no water or restroom facilities. Access from the Loop Road. No camping fees. Mitchell's Landing Campground: (Open all year). Primitive camping on 15 sites with no water or restroom facilities. Access from the Loop Road. No camping fees. Contact the Oasis Visitor Center at 239-695-1201 for campground availability and information about closures. Campgrounds may close seasonally for repairs or for resource concerns. -- Bob Rountree

There are several National Park Service campgrounds near the midpoint of your Tamiami Trail crossing that accommodate recreational vehicles , although you won't find much in the way of amenities. For the most part, dry-docking is the order of the day, so bring your own water, your own electricity and anything else you might need. Oh, yea. Don't forget the bug repellent. Reservations are not accepted for these campgrounds, and camping is free at all but Monument Lake and Midway. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis, and finding a site could be tough in February and March, when the snowbird migration is at its peak. Good times to visit are during spring and late fall -- avoiding the humid summer wet season and the crush of winter visitors. Midway Campground: (See photo; Open all year) There are 26 RV campsites and another 10 for tents. RV sites can hook up to electricity and there is a dump station and restrooms. Drinking water is accessible. Located near the Oasis Visitor Center and the Florida Trail, where backpackers can hike deep into the Big Cypress Preserve. Camping fees are $19 for RV's and $16 for tents. Monument Lake Campground: (Open only from September 1 through April 15). There are 36 campsites (26 for RV, 10 for tents), but no hookups. An outside, cold-water shower is available, but that's about it. The campground is located at Monroe Station, which marks the end of the scenic 26-mile Loop Road that runs deep into the wilderness. Camping fee is $16 for both tents and RVs. Burns Lake Campground: (Open only from September 1 through January 6) There are 40 sites at Burns Lake, but none have hookups. The campsites are open and surround a small lake, off-limits to swimmers. Just west of the campground is the H.P. Williams Roadside Park, where you can do a 17-mile side trip by car or by bicycle along Turner Road through scenice prairies graced with wildflowers and cypress. No camping fees. Bear Island Campground:> (Open all year). Primitive camping in three designated campgrounds: Bear Island (40 sites), Pink Jeep (9 sites), and Gator Pit (9 sites). The latter require and off-road-vehicle permit. There are no amenities whatsoever. Access from Turner Road. No camping fees. Pinecrest Campground: (Open all year). Primitive camping on 10 sites with no water or restroom facilities. Access from the Loop Road. No camping fees. Mitchell's Landing Campground: (Open all year). Primitive camping on 15 sites with no water or restroom facilities. Access from the Loop Road. No camping fees. Contact the Oasis Visitor Center at 239-695-1201 for campground availability and information about closures. Campgrounds may close seasonally for repairs or for resource concerns. -- Bob Rountree (PHOTO COURTESY OF THE FRIENDS OF BIG CYPRESS)

There are several National Park Service campgrounds near the midpoint of your Tamiami Trail crossing that accommodate recreational vehicles , although you won't find much in the way of amenities. For the most part, dry-docking is the order of the day, so bring your own water, your own electricity and anything else you might need. Oh, yea. Don't forget the bug repellent. Reservations are not accepted for these campgrounds, and camping is free at all but Monument Lake and Midway. Availability is on a first-come, first-served basis, and finding a site could be tough in February and March, when the snowbird migration is at its peak. Good times to visit are during spring and late fall -- avoiding the humid summer wet season and the crush of winter visitors. Midway Campground: (See photo; Open all year) There are 26 RV campsites and another 10 for tents. RV sites can hook up to electricity and there is a dump station and restrooms. Drinking water is accessible. Located near the Oasis Visitor Center and the Florida Trail, where backpackers can hike deep into the Big Cypress Preserve. Camping fees are $19 for RV's and $16 for tents. Monument Lake Campground: (Open only from September 1 through April 15). There are 36 campsites (26 for RV, 10 for tents), but no hookups. An outside, cold-water shower is available, but that's about it. The campground is located at Monroe Station, which marks the end of the scenic 26-mile Loop Road that runs deep into the wilderness. Camping fee is $16 for both tents and RVs. Burns Lake Campground: (Open only from September 1 through January 6) There are 40 sites at Burns Lake, but none have hookups. The campsites are open and surround a small lake, off-limits to swimmers. Just west of the campground is the H.P. Williams Roadside Park, where you can do a 17-mile side trip by car or by bicycle along Turner Road through scenice prairies graced with wildflowers and cypress. No camping fees. Bear Island Campground:> (Open all year). Primitive camping in three designated campgrounds: Bear Island (40 sites), Pink Jeep (9 sites), and Gator Pit (9 sites). The latter require and off-road-vehicle permit. There are no amenities whatsoever. Access from Turner Road. No camping fees. Pinecrest Campground: (Open all year). Primitive camping on 10 sites with no water or restroom facilities. Access from the Loop Road. No camping fees. Mitchell's Landing Campground: (Open all year). Primitive camping on 15 sites with no water or restroom facilities. Access from the Loop Road. No camping fees. Contact the Oasis Visitor Center at 239-695-1201 for campground availability and information about closures. Campgrounds may close seasonally for repairs or for resource concerns. -- Bob Rountree